Ponyserk I- Egg of the High Queen

Rainbow Dash

The battle had long since ended, and yet the Pegasus still felt the rush of excitement. The thrill she felt as her blade made contact with flesh, ending lives in the field of death that she had spent her whole life meandering through. Dodging and weaving from incoming attacks, either from an arrow or from another’s blade, escaping with her life through just her willpower and luck, the adrenaline knowing she had bested the odds fate had thrown against her. It was all as natural as breathing for her, to the point she couldn't see herself doing anything else. Well, except for one thing: Flying.

She had departed from the body of soldiers as they made their way back from the battle to the camp and flown off into the sky above. She felt at peace in the sky, soaring through the blue expanse that seemed so divorced from the land that lay below her hooves. It was like a whole other world up here, unbound by the tenuous and complicated affairs that went on below. Sometimes she enjoyed flying at high speeds, having taken to it like a fish to water the first time she had spread her wings. It was natural to her, as though something in her mind told her the motions for this. But, there were times where, such as today, she just wished to relax and take it at a pace after the battle.
It was more like floating then flying given how slowly she was going in the air, turning herself around in a slow circle as she flew on her back. She reached a hoof out to run through a passing cloud, observing the white mist as it dispersed around her. She sighed, content with herself as she lazed amongst the clouds.
She had once thought the clouds to be solid and soft, due to how they had looked like balls of cotton from the ground. She had always had the urge to jump on top of one of them, to rest on it as though it was a bed. But, she had found herself with a rude awakening when, after her first attempt, she had fallen right through. She still recalled the fear she had felt at what she thought was solid ground giving away beneath her, and also the later disappointment once she had remembered to spread her wings and glide to safety. But, apart from that one sour experience, she loved flying as much as she loved to do battle.

The feeling wind brushing passed her soothed her soul as well as the swinging of a blade, and the weightless descent of free-fall was as euphoric to her as when she had sent that unicorn commander flying with a swing of her sword. No, this was more powerful to her then just that. This was safe, it was calming, but above all it was freedom.
Freedom, it was something she hadn't truly had ever since that day: Since she had met Pinkie Pie.
“I will have my own kingdom Rainbow Dash. You will fight for me, because you are now mine. And as such, I will decide when and where you will ultimately die”
Pinkie Pies words rang through her mind once again, reminding her that her will was no longer her own. And yet, in a way, she found she didn't care. She had purpose here, and she had even found herself forming bonds with the ponies under her command along with other members of the band. Even Pinkie, the one responsible for her servitude, she felt no ill will towards. She had become a friend rather then an enemy, and she could always rely on her to watch her back. And, in turn, the Pegasus was devoted to watching hers. It had been that way ever since she had risked herself in the forest for her, the night her own strength had almost failed her.
But, even as she had grown to appreciate her new companions she still found herself relying on her sword and flight as she always had. Not that the pegasus could imagine it being any different. Her wings were more apart of her then her sword, and her sword was her most prized possession, to be without either was something alien to her. But, her wings and this wonderful freedom of flight was something she couldn't dream of living without.

“Rainbow Dash!” The annoyed tone of voice that still carried a hint of authority was unmistakable to the Pegasus.”Can I speak to you?”
“You already are” She yawned in a lazy manner, already feeling like falling asleep thanks to Fluttershy. She'd even done so once, although the yellow mare hadn't been to happy about it.
“I meant on the ground” Rainbow Dash was about to object when she noticed how serious Fluttershy's expression was, figuring it was better to comply then supply more ammunition for another nagging session.

Fluttershy

She knew Rainbow Dash would be here, it was where she usually was whenever free time became available to her. Sometimes she was practising with her sword on the outskirts, sometimes keeping to herself in the camps and those rare occasions she chose to socialise with others outside of her unit with Pinkie or the other Lieutenants. But, if all of those failed she was always to be found in the clouds and sky. She failed to see what was so special about the sky, she had seen it so many times before and it wasn't about to change.
She had considered just talking with her fellow pegasus in the air but she remembered the last time that happened, Rainbow Dash had fallen asleep and ignored all of what she had to say. Since then, any time she had to speak to the pegasus it was always on the ground. Besides, she liked the security of having her feet planted firmly on the ground.

“What's the problem now?” Rainbow dash grumbled, landing lazily on the grassy hill on the outskirts of the camp, everyone having long since returned from the battle to relax.
“What were you thinking!?”
She saw Rainbow Dash's eyebrow raise, her expression communicating that she didn't know what she was talking about. It was the sort of thing a foal would do to look cute, but on the pegasus it just came across as irritating.
“What are you on about?”
The second in command was finding that she was already beginning to feel her patience waning, but inhaled sharply to stop herself from succumbing to rage then and there.
“Don't try to act so dumb! Our orders were to wait until the right time to launch the ambush, Pinkie Pie was supposed to tell us when to attack” She had this problem with the raider commander in almost every single battle: Disregarding all orders and just doing as she pleased. She at first thought it was because she didn't understand that responsibilities came with being a leader, but now she was starting to get suspicious of that being the case.
“I don't see the problem, we won the fight didn't we?”
“We won, but what the problem happens to be is that you seem to interpret that as 'I have to charge them all head on like I'm some kind of hero!'” The use of sarcasm during her sentence didn't go amiss as the pegasus looked back at her from the sunset she had been staring at.
“Sarcasm doesn't suit you” She replied dryly, making the yellow pegasus clench her teeth.
“That's not my point! The point is you can't just keep running off like that. Because if you don't watch it, that ego of yours will put all of the Phoenixes in serious danger, put Pinkie Pie in danger”.
“I'm sorry, it won't happen again” She literally felt the lack of care and tone in Rainbow Dash's as much as she heard them. She had always tried to make some attempt to come across as serious or at-least pretend she was listening, but this time she wasn't even bothering to pretend!
She felt whatever patience she had break at that point, and just allowed her rage to channel through, building up with every word she said.
“You always say that! God, I have never met someone so insincere as you!” She screamed in anger, making Rainbow Dash flinch in surprise. There was some iota of satisfaction at that sight, but it didn't stop her building anger for long.”We've all tried to accommodate you, we've tried to get to know you and yet you haven’t changed one bit in the last three years I’ve known you! You...you haven’t even made an attempt to fit in!” She pointed her hoof in accusation, her anger that had been streaming out so readily now reaching it's peak as she found herself glaring at the pegasus in-front of her with all her might as though it would somehow make a difference.”All you care about is swinging that stupid sword of yours around against anything that gets in your way. You don't care about anybody here. We could all die one by one in-front of you and you still wouldn't give a damn about it as long as you get to kill something: YOU'RE NOTHING MORE THEN A MAD DOG!”

As soon as the last accusation had left the pegasus' mouth she immediately felt the air be pushed from her lungs from being slammed backwards. She winced, feeling her back make contact with a nearby large rock that sat beside them. It was quite painful and uncomfortable, especially due to her wings being forcibly squashed up against her back whilst she was stuck staring into the expression of pure rage of her fellow pegasus. Her eyes were narrowed in a glare, her mouth curled into a fierce snarl, and yet for all her rage she sensed a sadness. Had she really been so hurt by what she said earlier?
“You're wrong...I changed. I'm not like I used to be..” As with her expression, the pink haired pegasus could hear and undercurrent of sadness from Rainbow Dash.”I...I Care about the Phoenixes...I..I do!”
“That's enough!”

Rainbow Dash

Pinkie Pie's voice distracted her enough to turn from the second in command she had pinned to the rock side, looking around to spot the still armoured mare walking towards her. She would have assumed she had just gotten off of the battlefield if not for the lack of helmet on her head.
“Rainbow Dash please unhand Fluttershy” Her words were calm but carried a tone of authority, her eyes narrowing just slightly to get the point across. And, like a Foal getting scolded by it's parent, she did as was asked and lessened the grasp she held on the pegasus before stepping backwards. After this, Pinkie turned to Fluttershy as she started to walk over.”Fluttershy, let me speak to Rainbow Dash alone. Please, go check on the dogs..they seem to be quite troubled with all the noise back at camp”

Time froze for those few seconds before the other pegasus nodded, slowly making her way over the hill and back to camp. She thought she heard muttering about “being to soft on her” but she chose to ignore it given the more pressing matter before her.
“Ai yai yai yai yai yai yai!” Pinkie spoke softly with a sigh, shaking her head before stopping to sit beside the pegasus.”You're both still fighting like cats and dogs!” Even as she spoke, the earth pony had her gaze fixed on the setting sun.
“Give me a break. Fluttershy's the one who won't get off my back” She grumbled, sitting down beside her commander and the one who held her life in her hooves.
“Fighting side by side for three years and it still seems no different then the day you two first met” Pinkie let out another sigh of disappointment, making realisation hit the pegasus like a tonne of bricks.
“Three years..”She was amazed at how the time had gone by so quickly, as though it was still only the day after that first battle through the forest.”Has it really been that long?”
Pinkie Pie nodded in reply.”Yes, it's been three years since the day I won you” She smiled that almost infectious smile of hers, but her expression was one of distance and the past, appearing to be reliving the fond memory.”That was quite a fight we had. I still remember it like it was yesterday, almost every detail is clear in my mind..It was perfect”
“For you maybe, I think you're forgetting I had a dislocated shoulder to deal with for a week!” Rainbow Dash laughed, earning a small hit to that very shoulder from her commander. But, from how weak the blow was and the smile on her face she knew it was just in jest.
“I told you one day we'd look back on it and laugh!” The jovial earth pony chuckled, the pegasus simply grinning like an idiot.
“Yeah..I guess you were right about that as well” She saw the earth pony stand once more, watching as she extended a hoof out to help the pegasus to her feet. Rainbow Dash smiled, grabbing it and pulling herself up.
“Come on, let's get back to Camp” As the two walked side by side, Rainbow Dash found herself slowing.

“Pinkie....” The pink pony in-front of her slowed down, looking back at her with a curious gaze.”About the battle. I'm sorry I charged off like that”
Pinkie didn't look at her with anger or with frustration, but simply smiled as she always appeared to.
“When you fight and how you fight is all for me, remember?” She chuckled, reaching out to ruffle up the pegasus' mane. Normally, she would have loathed anyone doing this but, in the case of Pinkie, she found it oddly comforting.”Besides, I took the liberty of drawing up those battle plans with you in mind”
The words soothed her soul almost immediately, glad to know that her friend wasn't troubled by this. Wait, friend? Was that even the right word for this? Yes, the pegasus knew it was. She always felt at ease around Pinkie, and she knew Pinkie always felt the same around her. They laughed, joked, and fought side by side with one another. It was what friends did.

“I'm lucky to have a friend as great as her” She thought with a smile whilst continuing to walk alongside her.

The camp was already bursting with life once they arrived back, the two soon diverting down separate paths. Pinkie made mention she had to see to other things, but recommended that Rainbow Dash spend some time with her comrades as many had been asking after her. Along the way she noticed Fluttershy petting some of the guard dogs they had at the camp, but aside from a brief moment of eye contact the two didn't say a word.
“Dash!” A familiar young fillies voice reached her ears, soon followed by the footfalls of countless other armoured figures. Looking up, she saw the all too familiar flash of a purple mane before the young orange pegasus, Scootaloo, was standing before her.”That was amazing back there Captain you took them all in one charge!” She was still quite young and hadn't learned how to fully use her wings yet, but she had a certain amount of luck and was very good on her feet, making her good in a fight. Sometimes she could be quite annoying, but the pegasus had a soft spot for her and had taken her under her wing. Even now, she was mentally groaning at that pun.
Meanwhile, Scootaloo busied herself by zooming around her in a dramatic manner, striking all manner of poses and making odd sound effects with her mouth in a manner to retell what she saw take place.”Charging the whole army head on, taking the general out in one swing, striking down hundreds of thousands in slice after slice!” The pegasus didn't know whether to feel embarrassed, flattered or some mix of both by how much the little pegasus was talking her up.”Still, nothing less from the commander of the Phoenix raiders!” She declared with pride, even moving to salute her alongside the rest of the raiders that had gathered around.
“Damn right!”
“Here here!”
“Those Cavolian bastards didn't know what they were getting into!” The cheers of her raiders brought a small smile to her face as she started to walk through the camp, gesturing the others to follow.
“You did good out there today. If I got a little bit carried away in the fight today guys, I apologise”
“Oh, she's sorry. Don't worry, we accept your apology..'Captain'”Rarity spoke from beside them, her tone laced with sarcasm. She appeared to be busy at work at creating a sort of makeshift structure with the piles of bits she had with her, slowly and tenderly raising her hoof up to place what looked to be the last of them up onto the top of the miniature structure.
“See Captain? Nobody's upset, so no need to apologise. Plus, now we get to brag about you to everyone else!” Scootaloo stated as she attempted to leap over the pile of bits set up on the small table. Unfortunately, whilst she cleared the table fine, she ended up running her forelegs into the structure, sending bits flying everywhere as she propelled herself over. With a pout as she landed, not even regarding the shocked expression of Rarity, she moved to try to catch up.”Aww Damnit! I thought I’d be able to clear that!”

Rarity meanwhile appeared frozen in a state of complete horror, looking around at the bits that had scattered before starting to try to gather them all up again. She begun screaming out incomprehensibly at their backs, the pegasus hearing something about 'over an hour' and 'tanning your hides' but otherwise made no note of it as she made her way towards the scout siblings.
“Well, look who finally went an' tore herself away from chattin' to all them birds!” Applejack spoke in jest, holding up a small wooden box which the pegasus knew contained a deck of cards.”Feel like playin' a game? I just got this lot so I could replace tha ones I lost back durin' that bandit raid” Hearing the rest of her company beg her for her company, the raid commander just gave a nod of her head.”Glad ta hear it! Think we'll need all the relaxin' we can get!”
“Why's that?” Rainbow Dash asked as they made their way towards the open tent.
“'Cause if what Applebloom heard is correct, we're gonna be up against much more then just ambushin' knights and raiding camps” She sat down, beginning to deal out the cards.”We're gonna be raidin' a Castle!”